Koppert joins forces with Tereos to accelerate biological inputs development

Brazilian subsidiaries of Koppert and Tereos have struck a strategic partnership to develop new biological inputs over the next three years. 

According to the sealed contract, Tereos will have a stake in Koppert's advanced research center, Sparcbio (São Paulo Advanced Research Center for Biological Control), where new biological pest control agents are identified. In return, Tereos will provide 300,000 hectares of sugarcane as a massive testing ground for emerging bioinputs. The Sparcbio Center also involves the São Paulo Research Foundation and the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (Esalq) from the University of São Paulo.

Carlos Simões, Tereos' Agriculture and Planning Director, highlighted the partnership's unique advantage of connecting with real-world field conditions. He emphasized that the project could accelerate increasingly "sustainable and regenerative" agriculture by bridging industry and academic researchers.

Danilo Pedrazzoli, Industrial Director of Koppert South America, noted that the collaboration will enable large-scale validation of new products. According to him, this approach will address the needs of the agro-industry, market, and end consumers. The estimated investment for the next five years is approximately $9 million.

One key objective of the research and development sector will be finding alternatives for biological nitrogen fixation. Simões stressed that mineral nitrogen fertilizers have a production and logistics process with high greenhouse gas emissions.

To meet Tereos' demand, Koppert is planning to establish a factory in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Depending on the different technologies to be produced, the facility could be operational by 2027 and fully active by 2030.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)